Alan Henry

iOS, Android: Equifax, one of the three major credit reporting and scoring firms, just released a mobile app that make it easy for account holders to get quick access to their credit score, report, and other up-to-the-minute information. Even if you don't have an account, the app allows you to check out average debt loads, mortgage payments, and other financial information about your neighborhood.

The new Equifax mobile app is designed to give customers with Equifax accounts quick access to their profiles and credit information on the go. Equifax's credit reporting and monitoring services are paid features, so you'll have to purchase a subscription to use that part of the application.

If you do have an account, the app will provide your latest Equifax credit score, a summary view of your last credit report, and even mobile alerts if there are any major changes to your credit report, not just at Equifax, but at the other two major bureaus: TransUnion and Experian. The app also works with Equifax's credit monitoring service and lets you lock your report or find out if your information is found on suspicious credit trading sites immediately.

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However, most people don't have an Equifax account, and even if you don't, the app has some useful tidbits anyone can use. Give the app your zip code or address, and it'll show you the average debt load of your community, complete with individual numbers for different areas, all organized on a top-down map.

You can see what your community's average home mortgage payments are, even what the average car payments are, and move the map around to see how the numbers change from block to block, or among communities. The app also shows you the frequency of identity fraud in your area, and how your credit score lines up with the average in your community.

The Equifax Mobile app, even if you don't have an account, is a useful portal into the financial health of your community. It can help – although it shouldn't be the deciding factor – in whether to buy or rent, whether you're driving a car that's too expensive, or whether you should be sure to shred all of your mail before putting it in the trash.